Preparation of modified aromatic-moiety-containing polymers

ABSTRACT

A process for preparing aromatic-moiety-containing polymers having modified physical properties is disclosed. Briefly, the process comprises reacting in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst: (a) a suitable aromatic-moiety containing polymer resin and (b) a homopolymer of ω-halo-α-olefins, or co- or terpolymer of ω-halo-α-olefins with other α-olefins and/or ethylene.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is in the field of processes for preparing aromatic-moiety-containing polymers having modified physical properties.

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Polymers containing aromatic moieties or aromatic centers are well-known. These polymers have well-defined properties such as flexibility, tear strength, and hardness. Examples of this type of polymer include polystyrene, polycarbonates and polyphenylene oxides.

In many instances it is desirable to modify the physical properties of the aforementioned polymers. One means of doing this heretofore has been to physically blend another material (a modifying agent) with the aromatic polymer.

I have discovered another means of modifying the aromatic polymers so that they have different properties. This means will be described in the summary of my invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the present invention is directed to a process for preparing aromatic-moiety-containing polymers having modified physical properties, said process comprising reacting in the presence of an effective amount of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst at temperature of from about 0° C. to about 200° C. and for an effective length of time:

(a) a polymer selected from the group consisting of

(i) homopolymers of ω-halo-alpha-olefins containing 3 to 24 carbon atoms,

(ii) copolymers or terpolymers of ω-halo-alpha-olefins containing 3 to 24 C atoms with ethylene or α-olefins containing 3 to 24 C atoms, and

(iii) mixtures of (i) and (ii), and

(b) at least a stoichiometric amount, based on the halogen present in (a), of a material selected from the group consisting of

(i) a polymer containing on aromatic moiety,

(ii) a monomer capable of forming an aromatic-moiety-containing polymer, or

(iii) mixtures of (i) and (ii)

said process being characterized further in that when the reaction admixture contains a monomer capable of forming an aromatic-moiety-containing polymer the reaction admixture is subjected to a polymerization step.

In one embodiment the invention comprises reacting in the presence of an effective amount of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst at temperatures of from about 0° C. to about 200° C. and for an effective length of time:

(a) a polymer selected from the group consisting of

(i) homopolymers of ω-halo-alpha-olefins containing 3 to 24 carbon atoms,

(ii) copolymers or terpolymers of ω-halo-alpha-olefins containing 3 to 24 C atoms with ethylene or α-olefins containing 3 to 24 C atoms, and

(iii) mixtures of (i) and (ii), and

(b) at least an equal molecular amount, based on the halogen present in (a), of a polymer containing an aromatic moiety.

In another embodiment the invention comprises

(A) reacting in the presence of an effective amount of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst at temperatures of from about 0° C. to about 200° C. and for an effective length of time:

(a) a polymer selected from the group consisting of

(i) homopolymers of ω-halo-alpha-olefins containing 3 to 24 carbon atoms,

(ii) copolymers or terpolymers of ω-halo-alpha-olefins containing 3 to 24 C atoms with ethylene or α-olefins containing 3 to 24 C atoms, and

(iii) mixtures of (i) and (ii), and

(b) at least an equal molecular amount, based on the halogen present in (a), of a monomer capable of forming an aromatic moiety containing polymer, and

(B) polymerizing the product of step A using a polymerization catalyst under polymerization conditions.

In still another embodiment the invention comprises:

(A) reacting in the presence of an effective amount of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst at temperatures of from about 0° C. to about 200° C. and for an effective length of time:

(a) a polymer selected from the group consisting of

(i) homopolymers of ω-halo-alpha-olefins containing 3 to 24 carbon atoms,

(ii) copolymers or terpolymers of ω-halo-alpha-olefins containing 3 to 24 C atoms with ethylene or α-olefins containing 3 to 24 C atoms, and

(iii) mixtures of (i) and (ii), and

(b) at least an equal molecular amount, based on the halogen present in (a), of mixtures of

(i) a polymer containing an aromatic moiety, and

(ii) a monomer capable of forming an aromatic moiety containing polymer

(B) polymerizing the product of step A using a polymerization catalyst under polymerization conditions.

The polymer products of my invention do not contain a significant amount of halogen. More specifically, the amount of halogen, present as organo-halogen compounds, is essentially nil. The amount of inorganic halogen is less than 0.1%.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the invention will be illustrated using polymers and monomers of mononuclear aromatic compounds it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. The invention is useful for polymers and monomers of polynuclear aromatic compounds particularly those containing up to three rings. Because of availability the polymers and monomers of mononuclear aromatic compounds are preferred.

Examples of suitable aromatic-moiety-containing polymers include the following polycarbonates, which typically have the following structure ##STR1## wherein R is H or a C₁ -C₅ alkyl group

R' is a C₁ -C₅ alkyl group, preferably a methyl group, and

n is a positive integer

Polyphenylene oxides, which typically have the following structure ##STR2## wherein R is a C₁ -C₅ alkyl group and n is a positive integer

Polyphenylene sulfides, which typically have the structure ##STR3## wherein R is a C₁ -C₅ alkyl group and n is a positive integer

Polymers of styrene which are represented by the structure ##STR4## wherein n is a positive integer

The second essential material used in the process of my invention is a polymer selected from one of the following groups:

(a) homopolymers of ω-halo-alpha-olefins containing 3 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably 5 to 12 carbon atoms;

(b) copolymers or terpolymers of ω-halo-alpha-olefins containing 3 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably 5 to 12 carbon atoms with ethylene or α-olefins containing 3 to 24 carbon atoms, perferably 5 to 12 carbon atoms; and

(c) mixtures of (a) and (b).

The term halo as used herein refers to halogens having atomic numbers of 17 through 53, that is chlorine, bromine or iodine.

In order to avoid any ambiguity, the term alkyl as used herein refers to saturated hydrocarbon chains.

Examples of suitable ω-halo-alpha-olefins for use in preparing the homopolymers, copolymers or terpolymers include 6-chloro-1-hexene, 8-bromo-1-octene, 10-iodo-1-decene, 12-chloro-1-dodecene and 18-bromo-1-octadecene.

Copolymers of the ω-halo-alpha-olefin and ethylene or α-olefins are represented by the following formula: ##STR5## where X=Cl, Br, or I

n=0 to 22

R=H or C₁₂ -C₂₀ alkyl

m, p, o are positive integers

The amount of polymers or monomers of aromatic-moiety-containing materials is at least a stoichiometric amount based on the halogen present in the ω-halo-alpha-olefin containing polymer or copolymer.

The two materials are reacted using a suitable Friedel-Crafts catalyst. The term Friedel-Crafts catalyst is believed to be well understood in the art and refers in general to materials such as aluminum halides, boron trifluoride, ferric chloride, boron trifluoride-phosphoric acid complex, antimony chlorides, stannic chloride, zinc chloride and mercuric chloride. Due to cost and ease of handling, aluminum chloride and BF₃.Et.sub. 2 O are the preferred catalysts.

Knowing that a Friedel-Crafts catalyst is used, any person skilled in the art can readily determine the effective amount. However, in order to provide a more specific teaching the following ranges will be given. Based on halogen present in the polymer suitable and preferred amounts of Friedel-Crafts catalyst are:

    ______________________________________                                         Parts catalyst/part halogen                                                           Suitable                                                                              Preferred                                                        ______________________________________                                                0.01-10                                                                               0.1-2                                                            ______________________________________                                    

In some instances it is desirable to use a diluent for conducting the reaction. Suitable diluents are dry, organic liquids which essentially do not contain any atmospheric oxygen. Examples of suitable hydrocarbon diluents include hexane, cyclohexane, toluene, xylene, benzene, and a material referred to as LPA (linear polynuclear aromatic) . Examples of suitable non-hydrocarbon diluents include ether, N,N-dimethyl formamide, tetrahydrofuran, acetone, and methylene chloride.

When used the amount of diluent is about 1 to about 100 parts per part total polymer by weight.

The reaction is conducted using the following conditions:

    ______________________________________                                                         Suitable Preferred                                             ______________________________________                                         Temperature, °C.                                                                          0-250      25-140                                            Pressure, atmosphere                                                                             1-7        1-2                                               Time, Hours       0.25-5     0.5-2                                             ______________________________________                                    

After completion the product is recovered using known, conventional techniques. For example, the catalyst is neutralized and/or removed. The product is washed with a suitable solvent (water or organic) and then dried to remove solvent.

As stated earlier when one of the reactants is a monomer capable of forming an aromatic moiety containing polymer the reaction product is subjected to a polymerization step. Conventional polymerization processes can be used, with solution and suspension polymerization processes being particularly suitable.

Solution and suspension polymerization procedures are well-known in the art. Any person skilled in the art, without undue experimentation, can determine the procedure for polymerizing the reaction product.

Because of their physical properties the polymers of my invention have many and varied uses. For example, they can be used in molding powder formulations either alone or mixed with various fillers such as wood, flour, diatomaceous earth, carbon black, silica, etc., to make molded parts such as gears, bearings, and cams, especially for applications where high impact strength is required. They can be used to prepare molded, calendered, or extruded articles and can be applied to a broad spectrum of uses in the form of sheets, rods, tapes, etc. The compositions may also be mixed with various modifying agents such as dyes, pigments, stabilizers, plasticizers, flame retardants, etc.

In order to illustrate the nature of the present invention still more clearly the following examples will be given. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the specific conditions or details set forth in these examples except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

EXAMPLE 1

A 1 liter four neck flask equipped with overhead mechanical stirrer, reflux condensor (w/argon inlet), and two 500 ml addition funnels is flushed with argon and 1 g of BF₃ .Et₂ O and 80 ml of tetrahydrofuran (THF) are added. To one addition funnel is added a solution of 5 g of poly 1-octene!co 8-chloro-1-octene! (20% 8-chloro-1-octene) in 150 ml of LPA. To the other addition funnel is added a solution of 20 g of poly-phenylene oxide (PPO) dissolved in 170 ml of THF. At room temperature, and while stirring 20 ml of the PPO in THF solution is added to the reaction mixture and then the addition rates of both reagents are adjusted to be equivalent.

The reaction solution is heated to 65° C. and left to reflux for 10 hrs. At the end of this period, the reaction solution is poured into ice cold dilute aqueous HCl and the precipitated polymer is filtered.

The filtered polymer is placed in a blender and washed twice with a water/isopropanol solution and vigorous stirring. The solids are filtered and air dried, then placed in a vacuum oven to dry overnight.

EXAMPLE 2

A 1 liter 3-necked flask, equipped as in Example 1, flushed with argon and 1 g of AlCl₃ in 50 ml of cyclohexane is added. To one of the addition funnels is added a solution of 5 g of poly 10-bromo-1-decene! in 250 ml of LPA. To the second is added a solution of 30 g of polystyrene in a mixture of 50 ml benzene and 100 ml cyclohexane. The polystyrene solution is added to the reaction mixture, and then the LPA solution of the poly 10-bromo-1-decene! is added over 3 hrs. The reaction solution is refluxed as in Example 1, and the polymer is worked up as in Example 1 except that the quenched mixture is filtered, the filtrate phases are separated, and the organic solvents stripped. The combined solid precipitates are then washed once with a 50/50 toluene/isopropanol mixture in the blender, followed by treatment as in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 3

The same apparatus and procedure as in Example 2 is used except that the benzene solvent is replaced by 20 ml of styrene monomer in 30 ml additional cyclohexane. After treatment as in Example 2, the polymer is placed in a 500 ml flask containing 20 ml of styrene monomer in 100 ml of toluene and 0.25 g of 2,2'-azobisisobutylnitrile (AIBN) is added, after the polymer has swollen and dissolved, to initiate polymerization. After two hrs, the polymer solution is poured into 200 ml of isopropanol and 1×200 ml of methanol. The polymer is filtered, air dried, and placed in a vacuum oven to dry overnight.

EXAMPLE 4

To the apparatus described in Example 1 a solution of 30 g of 2,6-xylenol dissolved in 250 ml of THF and 2 g of AlCl₃ are added. The reaction mixture is cooled to 0° C. and 5 g of poly 1-decene!co 8-chloro-1-octene! (30% 8-chloro-1-octene) dissolved in 250 ml of LPA is added over 3 hrs. The mixture is stirred for 1 hr and then quenched as before with ice cold dilute HCl. The polymer is then collected, washed and dried as above. The dried polymer is placed in a 500 ml flask and is dissolved in toluene; 10 g of 2,6-xylenol is added and the polymerization is conducted as in Example 3. The resulting polymer is treated as in Example 3.

Thus, having described the invention in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that certain variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined herein and in the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A process for preparing aromatic moiety-containing polymers from homopolymers, copolymers or terpolymers of ω-halo-α-olefins, wherein said olefins contain from 3 to 24 carbon atoms, comprising contacting said homopolymers, copolymers or terpolymers with at least a stoichiometric amount, based on the halogen present in the ω-halo-α-olefins of an aromatic moiety-containing polymer, or combination at a temperature of from about 0° C. to about 250° C. in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst for a time from about 0.25 to about 10 hours aromatic moiety-containing monomers undergo polymerization to form aromatic moiety-containing
 2. A process for preparing a polymer resin containing an aromatic moiety, said process comprising reacting in the presence of an effective amount of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst at temperatures of from about 0° C. to about 250° C. and for effective length of a time from about 0.25 to 10 hours:(a) a polymer selected from the group consisting of(i) homopolymers of ω-halo-alpha-olefins containing 3 to 24 carbon atoms, (ii) copolymers or terpolymers of ω-halo-alpha-olefins containing 3 to 24 atoms with ethylene or α-olefins containing 3 to 24 C atoms, and (iii) mixtures of (i) and (ii), and (b) at least a stoichiometric amount, based on the halogen present in (a), of a polymer containing an aromatic moiety,said process being characterized further in that the term halo refers to halogens having atomic numbers of 17 to
 53. 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the amount of Friedel-Crafts catalyst is about 0.01 to 10 parts by weight based on the halogen in the polymer.
 4. The process of claim 3 wherein the reaction using the Friedel-Crafts catalyst is conducted under the following conditionsTemperature, °C.: = 0-200 Pressure, atomosphere: = 1-7 Time, hours: = 0.25-5.
 5. The process of claim 4 wherein the polymer containing an aromatic moiety is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonates, polyphenylene oxides, polyphenylene sulfides, and polymers of styrene.
 6. The process of claim 5 wherein the Friedel-Crafts catalyst is selected from the group consisting of aluminum chloride and boron trifluoride.
 7. The process of claim 2 wherein the amount of Friedel-Crafts catalyst is about 0.01 to 10 parts by weight based on the halogen in the polymer.
 8. The process of claim 7 wherein the reaction using the Friedel-Crafts catalyst is conducted under the following conditionsTemperature, °C.: = 0-200 Pressure, atmospheres: = 1-7 Time, hours: = 0.25-5.
 9. The process of claim 8 wherein the polymer containing an aromatic moiety is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonates, polyphenylene oxides, polyphenylene sulfides, and polymers of styrene.
 10. The process of claim 9 wherein the Friedel-Crafts catalyst is selected from the group consisting of aluminum chloride and boron trifluoride.
 11. A process for preparing aromatic moiety-containing polymers by reacting in the presence of an effective amount of Friedel-Crafts catalyst, at a temperature of from about 0° C. to about 200° C. for a time from about 0.25 to about 10 hours effective length of homopolymers, copolymers or terpolymers of a ω-halo-alpha-olefin containing from 3 to 24 carbon atoms, comprising contacting said polymers with at least a stoichiometric amount, based on the halogen present in said ω-halo-alpha-olefin polymers, of a styrene polymer. 